Crusty Bread

Last Friday, I promised to post this most delicious crusty bread recipe...you will love it if you love a hard, french-y crusty bread...it is really really good and super simple....really!  I got it here at Martha Stewart's blog, and she has a video there if you want to see that...It's originally a Jim Lahey of NYC's Sullivan Street Bakery recipe....now, to the recipe...when I made it, I swore there was no way it could work and be tasty, but trust me, it is...

Crusty Bread

3 C flour (bread flour preferred)

1 1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. yeast (that's right)

1 1/3-1 1/2 C COOL water (yes, cool)

Mix flour, salt and yeast together, then add water...mix will be sticky

leave in bowl covered with a plate for at least 12, preferably 18 hours on counter

then, dust counter with flour and dump dough out

fold over a couple times and form a ball

place ball on parchment paper square and cover with a towel to rest for 2 hours on counter

pre-heat oven to 450 and place a 4-5 qt. oven safe covered dutch oven into the hot oven and preheat the pot for about 30 minutes....empty

after the 2 hour resting period, CAREFULLY remove hot pot from oven and "plop" the parchment paper with the dough on it into the hot pot.

COVER pot of dough and cook 30 minutes. 

remove cover and cook 10-15 minutes more...bread should be a golden brown

cool, slice and prepare to be amazed.

this is a VERY crusty chewy bread...



It's a.......NOOK!

That's right, I got one....me who cannot work a vcr let alone a dvd player, me who cannot change the answering machine message or set my digital watch.  But, it had to be...and it is....divine!  I haven't even gotten around to BUYING any books, I am too busy downloading FREE ones, looking at email and looking at blogs!  I love it...love it!  The music is fun too and it has lots of other features....Saturday, Barnes and Noble will give you free coffee if you go

by and try one out...prepare to purchase though, you will be impressed!

Have a Fun Weekend...!